JAMAICA was, late Friday afternoon, placed under a tropical storm watch as a trough associated with tropical depression number nine moved closer to the island.

The weather system, which was Friday night 430 miles (690 kilometres) east-southeast of Kingston, had maximum sustained winds of 35 mph (55 kph) and was moving at 15 mph (24 kph).

The Meteorological Service of Jamaica said the depression was expected to strengthen overnight and is expected to become Tropical Storm Ian, forming south-east of the island.

The Met Service said Jamaicans should expect tropical storm conditions, especially across eastern and south-central parishes, to begin by Saturday morning into early afternoon and gradually engulfing all southern parishes during the afternoon into the night.

Sea conditions, it said, will deteriorate and all small craft operators, including fishers from the cays and banks, were expected to have already evacuated and be in safe harbour.

According to the Met Service, on Sunday there will be periods of showers, thunderstorms with occasional strong gusty winds — especially across southern and north-eastern parishes — while there are expected to be lingering night-time showers and thunderstorms and strong gusty winds, especially across south-central and eastern parishes.

The forecast is for the island to continue getting heavy rain into next week. And on Monday the forecast is for periods of showers and thunderstorms with occasional strong gusty winds, especially across southern and north-eastern parishes. Lingering night-time showers and thunderstorms are also forecast for central and western parishes.

On Tuesday there are expected to be showers and thunderstorms with occasional strong gusty winds, mainly across central and western parishes. Lingering night-time showers and thunderstorms are forecast for south-central and western parishes.